Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-29
Z FlwOMS NOVELIST As 4 CHRISTIAN
TEACHER

q tfWOWS NOtELISI ~ y snhtSGiSN
TEACHER.
Mr.. George W. Cable. formerly of New
Orleans but now Of Northampton, Mass.
Is one Of the most famous of our latter-day
American novelists, and he has discovered
and occupied with q wonderful degree Of
success . new field of literature. He has
,und in the Aeadans OF Louisiana ract
10 grea, extent unknown to the American
people and yet having a..rich and most hon
orabe historical record. and personal quail
ties and characteristics which make them
decidedly interesting to students Of human
nature. Their dialect is peculiarly !asci-
mating. and sunset glow Of romance Ger
tainiy illumines the race represented by
Longfellow's "Evangeline. Mr.. Cable is
writer Of genius and Of great power. and has
a refined and genuine humor that assists
largely in pointing his morals and adorning
his narratives. His books are not alone
charming and remarkably well sustained In
interest, but they are the fruit of the strong
purpose Of strong man to promote moral
and intellectual progress among the people.
Mr.. Cable has already made . powerful i'm
preston upon the more thoughtful class Of
Southern people. and has even reached the
element more moved by prejudice and pas
sion than BY principle.
Since taking up his residence in the
North Mr.. Cable has shown himself to be
more than . mere novelist and author
namely man and citizen of large heart
and wholesome purposes. At Northampton
he became the teacher OF Bible class and
made for himself . local fame in
that line that went beyond the lin
its Of the town. At Chantauqua,
last year. he taught the great As
sembly Bible class, and gave scores of Doc
tors Of Divinity . number OF hints and
points they will never forget.
In Boston. of lste years. the Rev. DR..
Meredith. who has gone to Brooklyn. has
been building up great class Of Bible stu
dents. composed Of the pastors and teach
era Of the city and vicinity, nearly
q thousand strong. and teaching them
one day each week. in fremont TEN
pie. For few weeks Mr.. Cable has been
teaching this class, and following Mr.. Mer-
edith. whose remarkable qualities and sue
cses have made him famous. much interest
has been felt in the result Of his
effsrts. Now il is admitted that while DIR.
Meredith was . large man. with . great
deal of magnetism and Mr.. Cable a man
''M small and graceful frame" and Of
quiet manners, he has proved equal
to the occasion and the situa-
tion. A contributor 20 the Congregation
alisf declares that his hand has "been. per-
haps. equally efficient in guiding the pro
c eedlngs." We are informed. by the same
gentleman, that ''Mr. Cables method Of
teaching is in As striking contrast to that Of
his predecessor A. Is his small and graceful
frame unlike the burly form of the: recent
pastor Of Union church," that he is defer
sntial rather than aggressive" but that he
has that charming suavity Of manner
which invests many of the characters in his
iction:" that bubbles from his deep foun-
tain of humor come to the surface every
little while. and occasionally . shaft Is
driven home which discomforts pertinaci-
BUS questioner and convulses the audi
ence.-
To man who. the other day, inquired IL
here would be suffering in the world when
Christ's redemptive work is fully accom-
plished. he hurled back the reply. "wait
md see -
The contributor to the Cong,e9dtiondlisf
iScaafssfhetSf<C Cable seems to possess
i6ep insight into the spiritual truths of the
Bible and emphasizes their relation to prae-
ical Christian living. and that expressions
II satisfaction with his handling Of the sew
nal lessons have been frequent, many Of
hem coming from, Fdsnt admirers Of Br.S
/ w sr-, 's'
Last Monday evening Mr.. Cable ad-
lressed III audience of ministers
n New York on ''Cobwebs in the
,hurch." His definition of Cobwebs,
dr. Cable took from the diction- !
ny; his definition of the Church he took
rom the Bible, and then BY accommodation |
le made each definition answer his pur-
'ose. We quote from the correspondence
II the Idmnce, Chicago. a description Of
his talk:
Compact thought and wonderful sugges-
iveress characterized the thorough and
treatment Of the subject.
harp points. refined wit and delicate hu-
nor. kept the audience keyed up In interest |
II the way through. Blind veneration
or the past: traditiOnalism. scholasticism,
economy in church finance:
lique government and caste exclusiveness.
we're some of the cObwebs discovered and
igorously swept at by Mr.. Cables broom.
,Obwebs they are. and every one Of them
xisting but fear no sweeper. however
ent on church cleaning. can reach them
II and brush them from their hiding
'laces. Gods Spirit Is the only force that
an do it. When Mr.. Csble had finished
here was little more to be said. Dr. Clapp
a moving vote of thanks felt that there
Tss not much left for us to be very proud
{. DIR. Lyman Abbott. in seconding the
notion, cOmplimented the art and bfiiliancy
the address. Dr. J. l.. Scudder wanted
lr. Cable to visit all the theological sem
laries in the country, and deliver what he
nd told the club, and incidentally ans
'ereA question of Mr.. Cables a to
1hether his audience knew of any church
here the best seats were reserved for
by saving he knew-of one such
hurch. but II was where the best seats
'ere held at so high price no one would
~ for them. Dr. Meredith. who was
resent, had chance to measure the man
.h0 has succeeded him in chaIRe Of the